Vizio TVs Contain LED Devices That Infringe Nichia Patent, Complaint Alleges

Vizio is importing massive volumes of TVs containing LED devices that infringe a Nichia patent, Nichia alleged in a complaint (in Pacer) filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Marshall, Texas, that seeks unspecified monetary damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. Nichia landed the patent at issue (9,490,411) Nov. 8 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describing methods for manufacturing LED devices with “thermosetting” resins for longer durability. Vizio TVs containing the infringing LED devices are sold in retail stores throughout the Eastern Texas “judicial district,” including Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart stores, said the complaint. Those chains collectively have 29 outlets “in this judicial district,” it said. Vizio said “it has the first or second shelf-space positions at these retailers,” it said. Nationally, those four chains accounted for about 81 percent of Vizio’s net sales during the six-month period ending June 30, 2015, said the complaint, which appeared to lift that data from an SEC registration statement Vizio filed in July 2015 for an initial public offering it never took to market (see 1507260001). Privately held Vizio soon after ceased disclosing sales data as it entered talks to be acquired by LeEco (see 1607260066). That deal still awaits completion. Vizio representatives didn't comment Tuesday on the Nichia complaint.